Log handling tongs



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March 26, 1957 A. R. WIRKKALA LOG HANDLING TONGS Filed June- 2, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

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LOG HANDLING TONGS Albert R. Wirkkala, Naselle, Wash.

Application June 2, 1953, Serial No. 359,128

1 Claim. (Cl. 294-118) This invention relates to tongs, especially as used for the handling and loading of logs, and it has reference more particularly to the provision of novel cable means for the releasing of the tongs from a log after it has been lowered to rest.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a cable means that is extremely simple in its construction and mode of operation, and whereby a pair of tongs can be opened as required for their release from a log, and whereby they may then be held suspended in such open condition that they may be lowered to position for automatic closing about a log through the pull of the hoisting line.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide tong releasing means comprising a single, light weight cable or chain that acts on both tongs with opening force, and which is so connected with the tongs that when opened they may be held in a laterally tilted position that facilitates their release from a log and also provides for an easy application to another log.

Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the manner of connecting the cable means to the tongs and in its mode of operation, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whercin-- Fig. 1 is a view of a pair of tongs equipped with the present tong opening cable means; and showing the tongs as applied to a log for loading or moving it through the mediacy of the hoisting cable.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the opening of the tongs to release them from the log.

Fig. 3 is a side or edge view of the upper portion of the pair of tongs and their means of connection with the hoisting line.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of parts, taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The present apparatus comprises the paired tongs, and 10, disposed with their upper end portions crossed and pivotally joined by a pivot bolt 11. The lower end portions of the tongs. are relatively long and here shown to be inwardly curved to better adapt them for application to a long and formed with inwardly directed log piercing points 12. The upper end portions of the paired tongs continue beyond the pivot bolt 11 as relatively short lever arms, 10 and 10, each of which has a clevis 13 pivotally attached to its end. Another clevis, 14, here shown to be of ring-like form, is applied through both clevises 13 and is attached to the end of a hoisting cable 15 by a pivot bolt 16.

In accordance with present day practice in the loading of logs, the hoisting cable 15 would be extended to the tongs, from the cable winding drum of a hoist, passing from the drum over a sheave at the outer end of a boom,

2,786,709 Patented Mar. 26, 1951 2. to depend therefrom to clevis; 14. through which it? attached to the tongs. By reason. of. their present-mode of connection with the hoisting cablelS, the paired tongs may be easily opened apart and closed together as required for practicaluse in the intended manner of handling logs and similar objects.

The present invention pertains to the provision of cable means for releasing the tongs from the hoist operators position, or from another position that may be remote from the tongs. To accomplish this, a small sheave wheel 20 is mounted for rotation on a pivot stud 21 that is fixed in one of the tongs at a relatively short distance from the bolt 11 whereby the tongs are pivotally joined. Preferably, the distance of pivot stud 21 from the bolt 11 would be substantially equal to the length of the upper end lever portion 10 of the tong, but this is not a critical distance. Extended downwardly along the hoisting cable 15 is a tong control cable 25. This passes along the inside of the sheave 2t and then upwardly thereabout and is attached at its end to the outer end of a short extension portion 27 formed as a continuation of the overhanging lever portion 10' of the other tong. It will be understood that the line 25 can be extended upwardly from its connection with the tongs, over a boom sheave and then to the location of the boom operator and there applied to any suitable winding device, whereby it may be payed out and drawn in in accordance with the paying out or winding in of the tong hoisting line 15. However, when a log has been lifted and then lowered to rest, it is then possible to slack oif on the hoisting line 15 and draw in on the tong line 25, thus to draw the sheave it} toward the lever extension 27 and thus cause the tongs to be opened apart, as shown in Pig. 2. This upward pull of cable 25 results in the tongs being swung to an open position for easy disengagement from the log and held in suspension in an open position ready for easy application to another log.

After the tongs have thus been brought to open position, if held suspended by the tong control line 25, they will remain in the laterally opened position in which they are shown in Fig. 2, and if the line 15 is left in a slackened condition, the tongs will not rotate about the suspending line and their placement about a log will not necessarily require a workman tohold, guide and then close them. After being dropped over a log, the open tongs can then be closed thereagainst merely by slacking off the tong control line 25 and drawing upon the hoisting line 15.

While I have herein shown use of only one tong control line 25, it is quite apparent that a similar line could be likewise applied to the opposite side of the tongs and extended to a winding drum adapted to be operated in conjunction with that which carries the other cable.

Tongs of this character, equipped with the cable control or release means as here shown are usually of heavy construction and when used in handling large and extremely heavy logs, are difficult to apply and release manually. Therefore, the present cable control eliminates the usual manual Work and also eliminates the dangets that are present and frequently experienced by persons handling and loading logs onto cars or trucks by the extensively used tong boom systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

in combination; a pair of crossed log handling tongs pivotally joined near their upper ends, each equipped at its upper end with a pivotally attached clevis, another clevis applied through both of the tong clcvises, a tong suspending and lifting cable attached to the said another clevis, a sheave wheel mounted on one of the tongs below the point of their pivotal connection, the other of said tongs having a continuing portion at its upper end extending laterally beyond the point of pivotal connection of the corresponding clevis to overhang said sheave wheel and a tong opening line attached to the outer end of said extension and extended downwardly therefrom about the sheave wheel and then upwardly along the said cable as a means for opening the tongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 4 Tawes Mar. 24, 1891 Rodman Apr. 21, 1908 Carlson Mar. 1, 1921 Ruppert Nov. 25, 1924 Tornquist Nov. 18, 1930 

